Index: src/wp-admin/js/common.js
===================================================================
--- src/wp-admin/js/common.js	(revision 31502)
+++ src/wp-admin/js/common.js	(working copy)
@@ -465,6 +465,8 @@
 		var el = e.target, selStart, selEnd, val, scroll, sel;
 
 		if ( e.keyCode == 27 ) { // escape key
+			// when pressing Escape: Opera 12 and 27 blur form fields, IE 8 clears them
+			e.preventDefault();
 			$(el).data('tab-out', true);
 			return;
 		}
@@ -481,10 +483,6 @@
 		selEnd = el.selectionEnd;
 		val = el.value;
 
-		try {
-			this.lastKey = 9; // not a standard DOM property, lastKey is to help stop Opera tab event. See blur handler below.
-		} catch(err) {}
-
 		if ( document.selection ) {
 			el.focus();
 			sel = document.selection.createRange();
@@ -502,11 +500,6 @@
 			e.preventDefault();
 	});
 
-	$('#newcontent').bind('blur.wpevent_InsertTab', function() {
-		if ( this.lastKey && 9 == this.lastKey )
-			this.focus();
-	});
-
 	if ( pageInput.length ) {
 		pageInput.closest('form').submit( function() {